Rams Stafford tosses last minute TD to defeat Panthers 34-31 in NFL playoff opener

Matthew Stafford's 19-yard pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining rescued the Los Angeles Rams in a 34-31 victory against the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card game Saturday (January 10) at Charlotte.

Stafford was 24-for-42 for 304 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Puka Nacua, who racked up 111 receiving yards, scored on a reception and a run, and Harrison Mevis kicked two field goals for the Rams.

Bryce Young's 7-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker near the left side of the end zone with 2:39 remaining gave the Panthers a 31-27 lead but they couldn't hold on.

The Rams will meet a to-be-determined opponent next weekend.

Young was 21-for-40 for 264 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he also rushed for a TD. Coker finished with 134 receiving yards on seven catches for the Panthers, who were in their first playoff game in eight years.

A blocked punt by Isaiah Simmons gave the Panthers the ball at the Rams' 30 with 4:12 remaining and trailing 27-24. Four plays later, they were in the end zone with go-ahead points.

Chuba Hubbard's 3-yard run in the first minute of the fourth quarter -- his second of the game -- gave the Panthers their first lead of the game at 24-20. Carolina covered 62 yards in four plays.

The Rams came right back with a 67-yard drive that ended with Stafford's 13-yard pass to Kyren Williams. The 11-play possession included a fourth-and-1 pick-up from the Panthers' 30.

Earlier, the Panthers came back from a 17-7 deficit to pull even in the third quarter on Ryan Fitzgerald's 46-yard field goal to end a 13-play drive.

Los Angeles went back ahead on Mevis' 42-yarder later in the quarter.

The Rams were dominant for much of the first half, but the Panthers hung around.

Young's 16-yard scramble for a TD with 37 seconds to go in the half allowed Carolina to pull within 17-14. That came after the Rams failed to cash in after recovering a muffed punt in Panthers' territory, giving the ball back on a failed fourth down from the Carolina 19-yard line.

Carolina's three first-quarter possessions ended on a failed fourth-down play, a punt and an interception by Cobie Durant.

The Rams scored first on Stafford's 14-yard pass to Nacua. Los Angeles converted the pick into a 48-yard drive finished with Nacua's 5-yard run around the end, claiming a 14-0 lead.

Production: David Grip/Reuters